Press mold

Abstract

In a press die that processes a workpiece using two blades, this invention provides a technology that can prevent one of the two blades from coming into contact with the other blade or the workpiece. [Solution] The press die comprises a first movable part having a first blade that contacts the workpiece and moves along a first axis, a second movable part having a second blade that contacts the workpiece and moves along a second axis intersecting the first axis, a cam mechanism that moves the second movable part so that the second blade contacts the workpiece after the first blade has contacted the workpiece, and a return mechanism that moves the second movable part so that the second blade moves away from the workpiece. The cam mechanism brings the second blade into contact with the workpiece while the second movable part is supporting the first movable part, and the return mechanism moves the second movable part after the first movable part has moved away from the second movable part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a press die.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a press die that performs bending on a workpiece with a movable bending blade that moves up and down, then pushes up and releases the movable bending blade, and further performs bending on the workpiece with a side bending blade that moves left and right (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the prior art, there is a possibility that the other blade or the workpiece may be damaged when one pushed-up blade descends again and contacts the other blade or the workpiece. Therefore, in a press die that processes a workpiece with two blades, a technique capable of suppressing contact between one of the two blades and the other blade or the workpiece is desired.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a press die is provided. The press die comprises: a first movable part having a first blade that contacts a workpiece and moves along a first axis; a second movable part having a second blade that contacts the workpiece and moves along a second axis intersecting the first axis; a cam mechanism for moving the second movable part so that the second blade contacts the workpiece after the first blade has contacted the workpiece; and a return mechanism for moving the second movable part so that the second blade moves away from the workpiece. The cam mechanism causes the second blade to contact the workpiece while the second movable part is supporting the first movable part, and the return mechanism moves the second movable part after the first movable part has moved away from the second movable part. In this form of press die, after the first movable part separates from the second movable part, the return mechanism moves the second movable part, so that the first movable part can be supported by the second movable part until the first movable part separates from the second movable part. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first cutting edge of the first movable part from coming into contact with the second cutting edge of the second movable part or the workpiece. (2) In the press die of the above form, the first movable part has a first inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the second axis and a first parallel surface that is parallel to the second axis and is located between the first blade and the first inclined surface, and the second movable part has a second parallel surface that is parallel to the second axis and a second inclined surface that is located between the second blade and the second parallel surface and is inclined with respect to the second axis, and the first blade may move away from the workpiece by sliding between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, and the second blade may come into contact with the workpiece by sliding between the first parallel surface and the second parallel surface. In this form of press die, the second movable part can support the first movable part by contact with the first parallel surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the second movable part from moving due to being pushed by the first movable part. (3) In the press die of the above form, the return mechanism may include an air cylinder for moving the second movable part. This type of press die allows the second movable part to be moved with a simple configuration. (4) In the press die of the above form, the return mechanism may include a mechanical valve that switches between supplying and discharging air to the air cylinder. This type of press die allows for switching between supplying and discharging air to and from the air cylinder with a simple configuration. (5) In the press die of the above form, the mechanical valve may start discharging air from the air cylinder when it comes into contact with the cam mechanism, and start supplying air to the air cylinder when it comes away from the cam mechanism. This type of press die allows for switching the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder at the appropriate timing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] The first explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a press die. [Figure 2] A second explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a press die. [Figure 3] A third explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the press die. [Figure 4] A fourth explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the press die. [Figure 5] A fifth explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the press die. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] A. Embodiments: Figures 1 to 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of a press die 10 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the press die 10 in this embodiment comprises an upper die (not shown), a lower die 12, a first movable part 30, a second movable part 40, a cam mechanism 50, and a return mechanism 60. The press die 10 further comprises a pad 70 and a main cam 80. The press die 10 has a front-to-back axis X, a left-to-right axis Y, and a up-to-down axis Z that intersect each other perpendicularly. In this disclosure, the up-to-down axis Z may be referred to as the first axis, and the left-to-right axis Y may be referred to as the second axis.

[0009] The first movable part 30 has a first cutting edge 31 for bending the workpiece WK, a first parallel surface 32 parallel to the horizontal plane, and a first inclined surface 33 inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The first cutting edge 31 is located at the lower left end of the first movable part 30. The first parallel surface 32 is located to the upper right of the first cutting edge 31. The first inclined surface 33 is located to the upper right of the first parallel surface 32. The first parallel surface 32 faces downward, and the first inclined surface 33 faces downward to the right. The first movable part 30 is fixed to the upper die via an elastic member 35 that expands and contracts vertically, and moves along the vertical axis Z together with the upper die. In this embodiment, the elastic member 35 is a gas spring filled with nitrogen gas. However, the elastic member 35 is not limited to a gas spring, and may be, for example, a coil spring. Note that Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the elastic member 35 to show its expansion and contraction state, but the position of the elastic member 35 in Figures 2 to 5 may not be accurate.

[0010] The second movable part 40 has a second cutting edge 41 for bending the workpiece WK, a second inclined surface 42 that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and a second parallel surface 43 that is parallel to the horizontal plane. The second cutting edge 41 is located at the left end of the second movable part 40. The second inclined surface 42 is located to the upper right of the second cutting edge 41. The second parallel surface 43 is located to the upper right of the second inclined surface 42. The second inclined surface 42 faces to the upper left, and the second parallel surface 43 faces upward. The second movable part 40 is located between the first movable part 30 and the lower die 12, and moves to the left along the left-right axis Y by the cam mechanism 50, and moves to the right along the left-right axis Y by the return mechanism 60.

[0011] The cam mechanism 50 includes a cam driver 51 and a cam slider 52. The cam driver 51 is fixed to the upper die and moves up and down with the upper die. The cam driver 51 is not fixed to the first movable part 30. The cam slider 52 is positioned between the cam driver 51 and the lower die 12. The cam slider 52 is fixed to the second movable part 40 and moves left and right with the second movable part 40. The cam slider 52 and the second movable part 40 may not be made of separate components, but rather may be made of a single component.

[0012] The cam driver 51 and the cam slider 52 have inclined surfaces that are tilted with respect to the horizontal plane. The inclined surface of the cam driver 51 faces downward to the left, and the inclined surface of the cam slider 52 faces upward to the right. When the cam driver 51 moves downward with the upper mold, the inclined surface of the cam driver 51 and the inclined surface of the cam slider 52 come into contact. Therefore, when the cam driver 51 moves downward, the cam slider 52 is pushed to the left by the cam driver 51. On the other hand, when the cam driver 51 moves upward, the inclined surface of the cam driver 51 separates from the inclined surface of the cam slider 52. Therefore, even if the cam driver 51 moves upward, the cam driver 51 does not move.

[0013] The return mechanism 60 returns the second movable part 40, which has moved to the left, to its original position. In this embodiment, the return mechanism 60 comprises an air cylinder 61 that extends and retracts left and right, a pneumatic circuit 62, and a mechanical valve 63. The base end of the air cylinder 61 is fixed to the lower mold 12, and the tip of the air cylinder 61 is in contact with the lower end of the second movable part 40. The tip of the air cylinder 61 may or may not be fixed to the second movable part 40. The air cylinder 61 is connected to an air supply source (not shown) via the pneumatic circuit 62. The air supply source is, for example, an air compressor.

[0014] The mechanical valve 63 is positioned in the path of the cam driver 51 and is fixed to the lower die 12. The side surface of the cam driver 51 contacts the mechanical valve 63. The mechanical valve 63 switches the air passage of the pneumatic circuit 62 so that air is supplied to the air cylinder 61 when the cam driver 51 is not in contact with the mechanical valve 63, and air is discharged from the air cylinder 61 when the cam driver 51 is in contact with the mechanical valve 63. In this embodiment, the mechanical valve 63 is positioned so that the cam driver 51, which moves downward with the upper die, contacts the mechanical valve 63 at the same time that the first blade 31 of the first movable part 30, which moves downward with the upper die, contacts the workpiece WK.

[0015] The pad 70 is disposed to the left of the first movable part 30. The pad 70 is fixed to the upper die via an elastic member (not shown). The pad 70 sandwiches and fixes the workpiece WK together with the lower die 12. The pad 70 stays at the position shown in FIG. 1 while the workpiece WK is bent by the first blade 31 and the second blade 41, and retreats above the position shown in FIG. 1 at the timing when the workpiece WK is taken out of the press die 10.

[0016] The master cam 80 is disposed to the left of the second movable part 40. The master cam 80 is configured to be movable left and right. The master cam 80 receives the second blade 41 via the workpiece WK. The master cam 80 stays at the position shown in FIG. 1 while the workpiece WK is bent by the first blade 31 and the second blade 41, and retreats to the left of the position shown in FIG. 1 at the timing when the workpiece WK is taken out of the press die 10.

[0017] The operation of the press die 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, with the workpiece WK sandwiched between the pad 70 and the lower die 12, the first movable part 30 and the cam driver 51 descend together with the upper die. When the first blade 31 of the first movable part 30 contacts the workpiece WK, a first bending step of bending the workpiece WK with the first blade 31 is started. Note that the first bending step can also be called an upward bending step. In the present embodiment, before the start of the first bending step, the cam driver 51 does not contact the mechanical valve 63. Therefore, the air cylinder 61 is extended, suppressing the second movable part 40 from moving leftward from the standby position at the right end. Also, in the present embodiment, before the start of the first bending step, the cam driver 51 does not contact the cam slider 52. Therefore, at the start of the first bending step, the second movable part 40 stays at the standby location.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, when the first blade 31 moves to the lowest point, the first bending step is completed. In the present embodiment, during the period from the start to the end of the first bending step, the cam driver 51 contacts the mechanical valve 63, and the air cylinder 61 becomes contractable. In other words, during the period from the start to the end of the first bending step, the second movable part 40 can move leftward from the standby position. After the cam driver 51 contacts the mechanical valve 63, when the cam driver 51 contacts the cam slider 52, the second movable part 40 starts to move leftward from the standby position. When the second movable part 40 moves leftward, the air cylinder 61 is pushed by the second movable part 40 and contracts, and the first inclined surface 33 and the second inclined surface 42 come into contact with each other. The first movable part 30 and the second movable part 40 are configured such that the second blade 41 does not contact the first movable part 30 while the first inclined surface 33 and the second inclined surface 42 are in contact with each other.

[0019] While the cam driver 51 is in contact with the cam slider 52 and the first inclined surface 33 and the second inclined surface 42 are in contact with each other, the downward translational movement of the cam driver 51 is converted into the leftward translational movement of the cam slider 52, and the leftward translational movement of the second movable part 40 that moves together with the cam slider 52 is converted into the upward translational movement of the first movable part 30. Therefore, the more the cam driver 51 moves downward, the more the cam slider 52 and the second movable part 40 move leftward, and the more the second movable part 40 moves leftward, the more the first movable part 30 moves upward. When the first movable part 30 moves upward, the elastic member 35 sandwiched between the first movable part 30 and the upper die contracts.

[0020] When the upper end of the second inclined surface 42 passes the lower end of the first inclined surface 33, the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 come into contact. While the cam driver 51 is in contact with the cam slider 52 and the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 are in contact, the downward translational motion of the cam driver 51 is converted into the leftward translational motion of the cam slider 52, but the leftward translational motion of the second movable part 40, which moves with the cam slider 52, is not converted into the upward translational motion of the first movable part 30. Therefore, the more the cam driver 51 moves downward, the more the cam slider 52 and the second movable part 40 move to the left, but even if the second movable part 40 moves to the left, the first movable part 30 does not move up or down. With the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 in contact, the second cutting edge 41 comes into contact with the workpiece WK. When the second cutting edge 41 comes into contact with the workpiece WK, the second bending process begins, in which the workpiece WK is bent by the second cutting edge 41. This second bending process can also be called the shank bending process.

[0021] As shown in Figure 3, the second bending process is completed when the second blade 41 moves to the leftmost point. In this embodiment, the first movable part 30 is pushed downward by the restoring force of the elastic member 35 from the start to the end of the second bending process, but the first movable part 30 does not descend because the first parallel surface 32 is supported by the second parallel surface 43. Also, in this embodiment, since the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 are parallel to the horizontal plane, the second movable part 40 does not move left or right due to the restoring force of the elastic member 35 from the start to the end of the second bending process. In addition, the air cylinder 61 does not extend from the start to the end of the second bending process. Therefore, the state in which the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 are in contact is maintained from the start to the end of the second bending process.

[0022] As shown in Figure 4, after the second bending process is completed, the upper die begins to rise. In this embodiment, when the upper die begins to rise, the elastic member 35 sandwiched between the upper die and the first movable part 30 stretches. The first movable part 30 does not rise until the length of the elastic member 35 returns to the length it was to before the start of the first bending process. Also in this embodiment, when the upper die begins to rise, the cam driver 51 begins to rise together with the upper die. The air cylinder 61 does not stretch until the cam driver 51 moves away from the mechanical valve 63. Therefore, the second movable part 40 does not move from its leftmost point until the cam driver 51 moves away from the mechanical valve 63. In this embodiment, since the air cylinder 61 starts to stretch almost simultaneously with the first movable part 30 beginning to rise, the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 separate as the first movable part 30 begins to rise. The state in which the first parallel surface 32 is supported by the second parallel surface 43 is maintained until the first movable part 30 begins to rise.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, in this embodiment, when the first movable part 30 begins to rise, the air cylinder 61 begins to extend. Due to the extension of the air cylinder 61, the second movable part 40 moves to the right toward the waiting area. Subsequently, when the upper die rises to a predetermined position, the pad 70 rises and the main cam 80 moves to the left. This makes it possible to remove the workpiece WK from the press die 10.

[0024] As described above, with the press die 10 of this embodiment, the workpiece WK can be bent by the first blade 31 of the first movable part 30 that approaches the workpiece WK from above, and then the workpiece WK can be bent again by the second blade 41 of the second movable part 40 that approaches the workpiece WK from the right via the cam mechanism 50. Therefore, the workpiece WK can be bent from two directions with a single opening and closing operation of the press die 10.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first movable part 30 is pushed upward by the sliding motion between the first inclined surface 33 provided on the first movable part 30 and the second inclined surface 42 provided on the second movable part 40. This allows the first blade 31 to be moved away from the workpiece WK, and a path is secured for the second blade 41 to contact the workpiece WK.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after the first movable part 30 is pushed up, the first parallel surface 32 provided on the first movable part 30 and the second parallel surface 43 provided on the second movable part 40 slide against each other, causing the second blade 41 to contact the workpiece WK. Since the vertical position of the first movable part 30 does not change when the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 slide against each other, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount the first movable part 30 is pushed up. When the first movable part 30 is lifted, the elastic member 35 sandwiched between the upper die and the first movable part 30 experiences both a stroke due to the lowering of the upper die and a stroke due to the lifting of the first movable part 30 simultaneously. If the amount the first movable part 30 is lifted increases, it becomes necessary to lengthen the elastic member 35, which increases the height of the press die 10 and may reduce the strength of the press die 10. If the height of the press die 10 is not increased, the elastic member 35 will become longer, which may cause the position of the first movable part 30 to be lower when the press die 10 is opened, potentially hindering the loading and unloading of the workpiece WK. In this embodiment, the amount by which the first movable part 30 is lifted can be suppressed, thus preventing these problems from occurring.

[0027] Here, if the first movable part 30, which has been pushed up, were to descend again, the first cutting edge 31 could come into contact with the workpiece WK again, potentially damaging the workpiece WK. To address this problem, in this embodiment, while the workpiece WK is being bent by the second cutting edge 41, the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43, which are parallel to the horizontal plane, come into contact, thereby supporting the first movable part 30 with the second movable part 40. As a result, the restoring force of the elastic member 35, which is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and the weight of the first movable part 30 prevent the second movable part 40 from moving. In addition, in this embodiment, the return mechanism 60 pushes the second movable part 40 back to its standby position after the first parallel surface 32 separates from the second parallel surface 43 due to the rise of the upper die. As a result, the state in which the first parallel surface 32 and the second parallel surface 43 are in contact can be maintained until the first parallel surface 32 separates from the second parallel surface 43 due to the rise of the upper die. Thus, the lowering of the lifted first movable part 30 can be prevented.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the return mechanism 60 is equipped with an air cylinder 61, which pushes the second movable part 40 back to the standby position. Therefore, the second movable part 40 can be pushed back to the standby position with a simple configuration.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the return mechanism 60 is equipped with a mechanical valve 63, which switches the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 61. Therefore, the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 61 can be switched with a simple configuration.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mechanical valve 63 starts discharging air from the air cylinder 61 when the upper mold descends and the cam driver 51 comes into contact with the mechanical valve 63, and starts supplying air to the air cylinder 61 when the upper mold rises and the cam driver 51 moves away from the mechanical valve 63. Therefore, it is possible to switch the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 61 at the appropriate timing.

[0031] B. Other embodiments: (B1) In the embodiment described above, the press die 10 is configured to perform bending on the workpiece WK using the first blade 31 and the second blade 41. In contrast, in other embodiments, the press die 10 may be configured to perform press processing other than bending on the workpiece WK using at least one of the first blade 31 and the second blade 41. For example, the press die 10 may be configured to perform hole drilling on the workpiece WK using one of the first blade 31 and the second blade 41, and to perform bending on the workpiece WK using the other.

[0032] (B2) In the embodiment described above, the return mechanism 60 is configured to return the second movable part 40 to the standby location using an air cylinder 61. In contrast, in other embodiments, the return mechanism 60 may be configured to return the second movable part 40 to the standby location using a power cylinder other than the air cylinder 61, such as an electric cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.

[0033] (B3) In the embodiment described above, the return mechanism 60 includes a mechanical valve 63 that switches the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 61. In contrast, in other embodiments, the return mechanism 60 may include, for example, a solenoid valve that switches the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 61. In this case, for example, the solenoid valve may be controlled so that the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 61 is switched according to the position of the upper mold or the cam driver 51.

[0034] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various configurations without departing from its spirit. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the summary of the invention can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10…Press die, 12…Lower die, 30…First movable part, 31…First blade, 32…First parallel surface, 33…First inclined surface, 35…Elastic member, 40…Second movable part, 41…Second blade, 42…Second inclined surface, 43…Second parallel surface, 50…Cam mechanism, 51…Cam driver, 52…Cam slider, 60…Return mechanism, 61…Air cylinder, 62…Pneumatic circuit, 63…Mechanical valve, 70…Pad, 80…Master cam, WK…Workpiece

Claims

1. It is a press die, A first movable part having a first cutting edge that contacts the workpiece and moves along a first axis, A second movable part having a second cutting edge that contacts the workpiece and moves along a second axis that intersects the first axis, A cam mechanism moves the second movable part so that the second blade contacts the workpiece after the first blade contacts the workpiece, A return mechanism that moves the second movable part so that the second blade moves away from the workpiece, Equipped with, The cam mechanism brings the second blade into contact with the workpiece while the second movable part is supporting the first movable part. The return mechanism is a press die that moves the second movable part after the first movable part has moved away from the second movable part.

2. A press die according to claim 1, The first movable part has a first inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the second axis, and a first parallel surface that is parallel to the second axis and is positioned between the first blade and the first inclined surface. The second movable part has a second parallel surface parallel to the second axis and a second inclined surface positioned between the second blade and the second parallel surface and inclined with respect to the second axis. The first cutting edge separates from the workpiece by sliding between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface. The second blade contacts the workpiece through sliding between the first parallel surface and the second parallel surface, in a press die.

3. A press die according to claim 1, The return mechanism is a press die comprising an air cylinder for moving the second movable part.

4. A press die according to claim 3, The return mechanism is a press die equipped with a mechanical valve that switches between supplying and discharging air to the air cylinder.

5. A press die according to claim 4, A press die in which the mechanical valve starts discharging air from the air cylinder when it comes into contact with the cam mechanism, and starts supplying air to the air cylinder when it comes away from the cam mechanism.

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